Memphis Area Transit Authority seeks millions to avoid cuts

Published
5:40 am EST, Wednesday, February 17, 2016

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Area Transit Authority CEO Ron Garrison has told city officials that MATA is on the brink of collapsing and will need millions of additional dollars this summer to avoid having to make major cuts.

The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/1QkU7KD ) reports that Garrison told a City Council committee on Tuesday that MATA needs $30 million from the city in operating funds in the next fiscal year budget — a roughly $7 million increase — to avoid cuts in bus routes and service frequencies.

Garrison says the authority also needs $5 million in city capital funds next year to replace 11 of the 60 buses it is trying to swap out.

Garrison says MATA's cumulative deficit since fiscal year 2009 is on track to reach $66 million by fiscal year 2018.